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Northern Echo’s Amos wins plaudits

The Northern Echo‘s sportswriter Mike Amos was last night acclaimed at the Regional Press Awards, organised by Press Gazette, with Steve Riding, of the Yorkshire Evening Post, winning the awards’ sports photographer prize for daily and Sunday regional newspapers.

Staged in London at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, veteran columnist Amos pipped the Liverpool Echo‘s Christopher Bascombe to the award, with Bascombe being highly commended by the judges.

The judges described Amos as “a gem of the regional press”. Peter Barron, the editor of the Northern Echo, said: “I have lost count of the number of awards won by Mike. After 40 years he continues to be the best in the business and this national award is another tribute to his remarkable talents.”

The regional press awards were re-organised this year, with journalists shortlisted in 24 categories, including the new category of digital journalist of the year. The winners were selected by independent judging panels made up of 40 senior journalists and chaired by director of Press Association Training Peter Sands.

Other sports awards were won by Marie Caley, South Yorkshire Newspapers (sports photographer – weeklies); John Colman, the Cumberland News (weekly sports writer).

The SJA’s Sports Journalism Awards are staged every March, and recognise outstanding sports journalism across national and regional newspapers, photography, broadcasting and cartoons. Entry details for the 2007 awards will be announced towards the end of this year.

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